Whitmer's latest COVID news conference is underway. Starting by urging everyone to request an absentee ballot today
SOS Benson urges Legislature to change a Senate-passed bill that lets clerks process absentee ballots earlier. She says giving them an extra day isn't enough. Clerks and others are seeking 7 days #MiLeg
Whitmer, asked if she will move to stop Trump rallies, notes there are First Amendment rights, says doesn't make a lot of sense realistically to try to enforce. Implores candidates to follow state/federal guidance. 'Do the right thing.'
Whitmer say she is 'very concerned' about case trends in Regions 6 and 8 (northern Michigan), where restrictions are not tight as the rest of the state
Whitmer: No plans to move Lansing region back to phase 3 after outbreak at MSU
Whitmer, asked about the prospect of fans being able to attend UM, MSU football games, says for it to even be an option, people need to mask up now
Whitmer on northern Michigan: When (numbers) continuously climb, we may have to dial back a little.' Khaldun notes UP is in line with some other areas of the state.
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NEWS: Let MI Kids Learn, DeVos-backed ballot group behind proposals to allow tax breaks to fund accounts for kids to go to private school or pay other education expenses, withdraws petitions. crainsdetroit.com/politics-polic… via @crainsdetroit#mileg
Ballot committee's spokesperson says goal always was for the GOP-led Legislature to pass the initiatives into law, not for them to go on the 2024 ballot. But Ds won legislative control in November, thwarting that plan. (The state had not yet determined if there were enough sigs.)
Secure MI Vote, a Republican-aligned ballot drive to tighten voting rules, also withdrew its signatures. That proposal was neutered by voters' passage of Prop 2, which expands voting options and keeps intact ID rules.
Breaking: The Michigan Supreme rules 5-2 that the state's civil rights law prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. The majority says the ban on sex discrimination includes sexual orientation, rules in favor of same-sex couple that was denied wedding services.
Majority opinion was written by Elizabeth Clement, a Republican, & joined by 4 Democrats. Two Republicans dissented. (GOP-led Legislature has long refused to amend the law to specifically prohibit discrimination against LGBTQ people in employment, housing, public accommodations.(
In 2020, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that a landmark federal civil rights law protects gay, lesbian and transgender people from employment discrimination. This ruling should provide state-specific protections in local employment, housing and public accommodations.
Michigan issues new guidance for unvaccinated, masked students who were exposed to a COVID-positive student. They CAN remain in school. Those who weren't at least 3-6 feet apart should test daily for seven days. Those who were at least 3-6 feet apart should monitor for symptoms.
More from guidance: Vaccinated students exposed to a COVID-positive student can stay in school regardless of whether they wore a mask. But unvaccinated, unmasked students should stay at home for 10 days - if either the infected student or the 1 exposed or both were not masked.
If a COVID-positive student was unmasked, unvaccinated masked students who were exposed still should stay home. They key here is masking. If there is universal masking in a school, fewer kids will have to stay home.
Michigan Senate GOP releases results of 2020 election investigation and, not surprisingly, concludes the outcome 'represents the true results.' It recommends citizens use a critical eye toward people who've 'pushed demonstrably false theories for their own personal gain.' #MILeg
Michigan Senate GOP urges AG Nessel to consider investigating people using misleading and false info about Antrim County to raise money or publicity for their own ends.
Michigan Senate GOP's report commends clerks for discovering and removing 3,500 absentee ballots submitted by voters who were alive but then died before Election Day. Oversight Committee concludes most allegations of deceased or non-residents voting were false. #MILeg
NEWS: Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announces a plan to tie the lifting of coronavirus restrictions to Michigan's vaccination rate, setting four specific benchmarks that must be reached to return to normal.
When 55% of people ages 16 & up get a shot, all office work can resume. At 60%, capacity limits rise at banquet halls, conference centers, stadiums, funeral homes. At 65%, no more indoor capacity limits. At 70%, order will be lifted to no longer employ broad mitigation measures.
Also, Whitmer announces a regional approach so if cases are high in a region, the state may delay lifting all indoor capacity limits in that region (the 65% vaccination rate milestone)
NEWS: Gov. Gretchen Whitmer urges a 2-week suspension of in-person high school classes, all youth sports & indoor restaurant dining. She stops short of ordering restrictions, instead asking for voluntary compliance to slow spread of COVID-19 as cases, hospitalizations mount
Whitmer also renews her call for the federal government to send more J&J vaccines to Michigan. 'We really should be surging vaccines to states that are experiencing serious outbreaks.'
The state health department will issue guidance strongly encouraging high schools that stick with in-person classes to enroll in the state's free, rapid COVID-19 testing - similar to a recent requirement for teen athletes